Air conditioning system



Feb. 23, 1954 B. KNEPPER AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 9. 1950 Bonnie Knepper INVENTOR.

B. KNEPPER AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Feb. 23, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 9. 1950 Fig. .3

R m. H m h m w m N u m I s .P 4 W M B V. B IT L m F i Feb. 23, 1954 B.'KNEP PER 2,669,923

' AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM Filed Oct. 9, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 5

...V. I Bonnie Knepper INVENTOR.

-Ha. I

Patented Feb. 23, 1954 CONDITIONING ,SYSTEM *Bumfid-Knepper, De witwlowa Application October-:9, 1950, Serial-N0.--189,200

' 2 Gla'ims.

illhisninvention relates. to new and useiu'l improvements .in air conditioning systems, and

Inasmuch as it .is .customary fclur'ing cold weather to close. buildingsagainstjthe entry of outside cold air, as well .as practicable, and'to warm the interior ofthebuilding by repeatedly more ;partiou1ar ly pertainsto air conditioning apparent .as the 'fo'lloyving 'descriptionpproceeds,

are attainedibyfthepresent invention, a preferred embodiment ofwhioh hasjbeeniilustrated'by .way

' of example only in the accompanying drawings,

heatingwandecirculating thesame air, and since this practice is manifestly. unhealthfl'iliinasmuch as the airjin the buildin will tend'toibe progressively vdepleted .df'its ,oxygen content by the occupants thereofland .also progressively enriched wherein:

Figure l'is a side ,elevational view ofithe unit positioneuin :a window construction, thelatter being shown'in vertical, section, with port-ions-of I the unit being broken away and shown-in section 'to illustratethe internal ,construction'thereof 'Figure"2"is amend-elevation ofthe ,unit on-a reduced scale, 'ShOWing the same positioned in a Window "opening as 'seen'ffromfthe'interior :of a.

' room;

inbacte'ria,,particiilarly those bacteria 0'1" respiracombined hood and "'inlet closure membeiyand ailments so prevalent during cold weather; it is the primary object of this invention'tofiin- ,troduce fresh outside .air into 'the buildin'g and to heat the .same during itswpassagethereinto to a predetermined temperature so that the entry A thereof willrnot wcause objectionable col-d drafts.

.iAnother'fimportant object Of'this invention; in conformity with the preceding 'obje'ctiis'to "subject the"fre's'h air to:germicidartreatment during its passageinto the"building, so that bacteria possibly, containedin the outside air'fthat'iis'admittedlto the'building will'be rendered harmless.

f-Another important object of'this invention-is .tojprevent rain or. snowffrom 'enteringthebuildingialong with the air'a'dmitted thereinto.

"Yet another "important, objectof this'invention is tojprovidea unit 'capable ofrealizingtheforegoing objects;whichmaybe efficaciouslymounted in'a' window opening, andwvhich'will be inexpensive in manufacture and "yet durable and efiicient Zforthe purposes'intended.

Acmeritorious feature-of the 'present invention *residesin theadjustablelouverspositioned at the outletmpening 'o'f the'nnit "which is automatically rontrolle'd'by a 'therma'llyrespons'ivedevice positioned in the "unit upstream 4 "of the louvers to retard orpreventmold'ainfrom'moving through theoutleto'peningofthe unit.

Another importantfeature of the present-invention' resides in the combined "hood and adj ustable closure meansfor'the inlet'openingro'f'the unit together with'themanualimeans' for-adjustingithe'position of: the inlet 'closure' means.

;A final important ."feature "to be specifically 'Bnumerated herein resides in the [shape ,of ,the itop .and bottom .walls .o'fLthe casing that cooperates Withthewindow. .sill and .the- ,window. sash to retain theum'tin the-window. opening.

.These,together. with various ancillary .objects anglTieatures .ofptheinvention which will become Figure 3 is a vertical transverse "sectional-view of the invention, this view being-takemupon'the plane of the section'line 3-'- 3'-of Figure-Q'onm-n enlarged "scale, "with alternative positions1df the the bi=meta1lic thermal elementbein -shown in dotted "outline; and with -th-e'relative position- 0f the -hood "adjusting handle also -being"shown in dotted outline;

Figureeis an'endelevation of the unit similar 'to nigure '2,-*h'owever,--this view being-taken *f-rom the-exterioroftlre building;

Figure 5 is a -vert-ical longitudinal "sectional 'view taken -npon the plane =-of I the section line "E- S-of'Figure'B ;-and

Figure-'6 'is a vertical longi-tudinalsectional -vieW,--thisview being takemupon the planeof the broken-section'-line 6'-B of FigureB.

Reference is now made morespe'cifically to-the accompanying drawings, wherein like mum-erals designate similar *parts *throughout the various views and in which :thereference numeral J0 olesig-nates the air conditioning=unit genera lly.

"The air-'-eonditioning -uniti ii i-ncludes a casing formedr of side Walls l'2' :and l l Q connected :by top andbottom avails t8 and l8,-respectively. "The casing is uniquely adapted to be read ily and securely positioned in a window aopeningedefine'd :by aislll 2.0, a raised inner 51112 22, -aowintlow.sash "2A, and win'dowside :members :26. clearly shown:inaFigure'swthe top :wall iifiwofithe'casingris wbentitofformianintegral verticalishoulderzii that :faces ltoward :zthe :Jxinlet :end rof the casing, lithe shoulder :28 :ubeing adapted lzto seatcagainmtzzthe :inner affacemf zzthe smln'dorv.:-sash :1 to :prevent movement iofxthe CflsingiOLltWfilld-ly throughzztne window qpening. =;In aisimilarxmannenr' the shot- ;tom walk-t8 of the. casingfisibenttorform :aniintegral :vertical shoulder 3i!) .zthat cfacescdtowardeathe outlet end of :lthezecasing, zthezshoulder ramming adapted :to seat against -:theneuter @edseaofrthe raised vinner silly-22.1110 lpreventmovementaof :the casing {inwardly through "the -;--.window opening. JIYhusit willrbelseen-thatuthe casing-,maMbemosi- ,tioned .in..a ..window-..opening with-line sam -24 raised, and that upon lowering the sash 24, the casing will be securely retained within the window opening. In addition, an angle 32 is suitably secured to the underside of the bottom wall l8 in spaced relation to and facin the shoulder 30 to receive the inner sill 22 therebetween to further insure the casing against dislodgement from its position within the window opening.

Of course, the interior of the casing is hollow, the same being provided with an inlet opening 34 at one end thereof and an outlet opening 36 at the other end thereof, it being noted that the outlet opening 36 is ofiset upwardly with respect to the inlet opening 34, it being pointed out at this time that the formation of the shoulders 28 and 30 in the top and bottom walls of the casing respectively contributes materially to the outlet opening being ofiset upwardly with respect to the inlet opening, such arrangement being desirable as will presently appear. With respect to the vertical dimensions of the casing, it will be apparent that the air conditioning unit is readily adaptable to any size of window opening by virtue of the manner by which the same is positioned and secured within the window opening; however, while it is desired that the air conditioning units have a width corresponding to the spacing of the side members 26 of the window frame construction, it is clear that in many instances the air conditioning unit will be smaller in width than the window opening, and since it is undesirable to have air pass through the window opening around the casing, the latter is provided with laterally projecting panels 38 that are suitably secured to the side walls l2 and Hi to engage the side members 26 and the window sash 24 to prevent the passage of air through the window opening around the casing as will be readily understood.

An adjustable combined sheltering hood and closure member is provided for the inlet opening 34 of the casing. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3, such member is U-shaped in horizontal section and consists of a closure plate 46 carrying Wings or flanges 42 at its opposite side edges. The member is positioned at the inlet opening 34 and the flanges 42 thereof are pivoted, as at 44 to the side walls l2 and i4 adjacent the top of the closure plate 40. It will be noted that the flanges 42 are received between the side Walls of the casing so that irrespective of the angular position of the closure plate 48 and the flanges 42 rain or snow cannot enter the inlet opening 34, and that the closure plate 40 may be swung to adjustably control the size of the inlet opening ,34. Means is provided for adjusting the position of the closure plate 46 from the interior of the room. Such means include a handle having upper and lower oiiset portions 46 and 48, respectively, the upper portion 46 being disposed on the outside of the wall 2 with the lower portion 46 being disposed on the inside of the side wall l2, the handle extending through the side wall I2 at the juncture of the portions 46 and 48 and journaled therein for oscillation about a horizontal axis. A link 66 is disposed within the casing and has its opposite ends respectively coupled to the lower end of the handle portion 48 arrangement being such that the handle portion 46 is in frictional engagement with the crenulated surface of the strip 52 to frictionally retain the handle portion 46 in adjusted angular position.

As best shown in Figure 3, the air passage through the casing connecting the inlet opening 34 and the outlet opening 36 is enlarged adjacent the outlet opening 36 by virtue of the shoulder 28 being of greater vertical height than the shoulder 30, and for convenience such enlargement in the passage may be termed the air heating and sterilization chamber 54. Mounted in the bottom of the chamber 54 in any suitable manner is a combined air heating and sterilization means 56, such means 56 consisting of a heating element 58, preferably of the type that radiates ultra-violet energy in addition to becoming simply heated to heat air by the emission of infra-red energy and by simple convection, and a reflector assembly 60 for refiectmg the ultra-violet energy as well as the infra-red energy upwardly through the chamber 54, the reflector 66 preferably having an aluminum surface for high reflectivity in the ultra-violet range and a surface highly resistant to corrosion and burning to preserve its reflective properties. Of course, the heating and sterilization element 56 will preferably be of an electrical type, and an electrical conduit 62 extends into the casing and is connected to the element 58 forenergizlng the latter.

It will be appreciated that heating of the air within the casing will expand the same, thereby reducing its density to induce a draft of air through the casing into the inlet opening 34 and out the outlet opening 36 by virtue of the latter opening being disposed upwardly with respect to the inlet opening 34. Accordingly, while a fan could be provided to force air through the casing, such a provision is unnecessary in view of the draft induced through the casing.

Means is provided to filter air passing through the casing, such means consisting of a filter construction 64 mounted in the passage adjacent the inlet opening 34 in the casing. As best shown in Figures 3 and 5, the filter construction 64 is retained within the casing by angle brackets 66, while the filter construction 64 is provided with a slot 68 through which the link 56 slidably eX- tends. To further facilitate the passage of air through the casing, a plurality of vertically spaced vertically inclined baffles 76 are positioned in the casing adjacent the downstream side of the filter construction 64, such ba'fiies 16 having their opposite ends secured to plates 12 that are, in turn, suitably secured to the side walls i2 and i4.

Means is provided to prevent the discharge of air from the casing until the same has been heated to a predetermined minimum tempera ture, whereby cold drafts cannot enter a room through the casing, and which will tend to control the draft through the casing so that the air emitted therefrom will be heated to a substantially constant or uniform temperature. Such means consists of a plurality of vertically spaced louvers [4 arranged in parallel that have their opposite ends pivotally secured to the web portions of U-shaped brackets T6 that are, in turn, suitably secured to the side walls I2 and I4. The louvers T4 are pivoted to the brackets 16 at 18, and are also each pivotally connected at opposite ends at 80 to a pair of links 82 so that the louvers 74 are maintained in parallel relation to each other and move in unison about the pivots 18 to adjustably control the size of the outlet opening 36. Thermally responsive means is provided to automatically adjust the angular positions of the louvers it. Such means comprise a pair of U-shaped bi-metallic strips 8d positioned between the web portions of the brackets 16 and the side walls 12 and It; respectively. One end of the strip-s 94 is secured to the side walls of the easing, while the other end of the strips is pivotally connected at 36 to one end of a link 38, which, in turn, has its other end pivotally connected at 86 to the lower end of the links 82, the arrangement being such that upon cooling the strip 8 the latter moves from its full line position shown in Figure 3 to its dotted line position shown in the same figure, whereby through the link 38, the link 62 is elevated to cause closing movement of the louvers It, as will be readily apparent. In order to lessen the load on the strips 3 lin closing the louvers M, a tension spring 90 i provided connecting the uppermost louver 14 to the side wall M to counterbalance the gravitational force on the louvers 74.

In addition, means is provided whereby the position of the louvers it may be manually controlled if for any reason it is deemed desirable. Such means simply includes the provision of a handle 92 pivoted to the casing at 96 intermediate its ends and having one end p-ivotally connected to the link 66 at the pivot 36. It will be understood that the handle 92 projects outwardly from the casing at its end remote from the pivot 86.

In order to conceal the louvers i l and to prevent any possible damage thereto, and yet to afford means for having access thereto for adjustment, repair or replacement thereof, a removable cover construction 655 isprovided for the outlet opening 36. Such cover construction 93 includes a front plate 96 having a plurality of vertical ventilating slots H39 therein, the plate 98 also being provided with a peripheral securing flange I62. As best shown in Figure 3, the bottom wall it of the casing is curved upwardly at it! toward the outlet opening 39 to terminate at the lower edge of the opening 36 in an inturned flange I iii; folded back upon itself at I 98 to receive the bottom portion of th peripheral flange 162 on the cover plate 58, with the top portion of the peripheral flange on the plate 93 being engaged over the top wall. iii. The cover construction 93 is detachably secured to the flange I 95 and the top wall it by suitable fasteners H8 whereby the cover construction 99 may be eihcaciously installed or removed.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary.

However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equiva-' lents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. An air conditioning unit comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in. a window opening, said casing having an inlet opening at one end thereof and an outlet opening at the other end thereof with a passage therein communicating between said inlet and outlet openings, a combined ultra-violet and infra-red radiator in said passage, louver means in the outlet opening of the casing adjustable for limiting the size of the outlet opening, and thermal responsive means operatively connected to the louver means and disposed in the passage to vary the size of the outlet opening according to the air temperature in the passage adjacent the outlet opening, whereby the temperature of air discharged from the casing into the interior of a room may be automatically maintained substantially constant irrespective of the temperature of outside air entering the casing, said louver means comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted louvers in spaced parallel arrangement, a link pivotally connected to each of the louvers remote from the pivots thereof, whereby the louvers move in unison, said thermal responsive means comprising a bimetallic strip having one end secured to the casing and its other end operatively connected to the link to actuate the link and thereby the louvers, including a second link pivotaily connected at one end to the first mentioned link, said other end of the lei-metallic strip being pivotally connected to the other end of the second link, and manual control handle for the louvers pivoted intermediate its ends to the casing and having one of its ends pivotally connected to the second link.

2. An air conditioning unit comprising a casing adapted to be mounted in a window opening, said casing having an inlet opening at one end thereof and an outlet opening at the other end thereof with a passage therein communicating between said inlet and outlet openings, said pasbeing enlarged adjacent the outlet opening to constitute an air heating and purifying chamber, a radiator emitting ultra-violet and infrared rays, said radiator being disposed adjacent the bottom of said chamber, louver means in the outlet opening of the casing adjustable for limiting the size of the outlet opening, and thermal responsive means operatively connected to the louver means and disposed in the passage to vary the size of the outlet opening according to the air temperature in the passage adjacent the outlet opening, whereby the temperature of air discharged from the casing into the interior of a room may be automatically maintained substantially constant irrespective of the temperature of outside air entering the casing, wherein the upper wall of the casing is formed with an integral shoulder therein facing the inlet end of the casing for seating against a window sash to prevent the casing from falling outward through a window opening, the casing having a bottom wall having an integral shoulder formed therein facing the outlet end of the casing for seating against the outer side of a raised inner sill to prevent the casing from falling inwardly through a window opening.

BONNIE KNEPPER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,000,366 Booraem Aug. 15, 1911 1,338,916 Fulton May 4, 1920 1,788,556 Wood et a1. Jan. 13, 1931 1,916,907 Sargent July 4, 1933 1,958,342 Johnson May 8, 1934 2,021,521 Sargent Nov. 19, 1935 2,022,523 Roessler Nov. 26, 1935 2,036,851 Chittenden Apr. 7, 1936 2,187,767 Akers Jan. 23, 1940 2,198,867 Fair et a1 Apr. 30, 1940 2,234,037 Anderson Mar. 4, 1941 2,241,108 Akers May 6, 1941 2,391,859 Babcock Jan. 1, 1946 

